Grade finding mechanism



3 Sheets-Sheet 1' w iw E F. D.WILSON GRADE FINDING MECHANISM Flled July 51 1933 F'eb.4,193'6. F, D, wlLgoN 2,029,455

c I GRADE FINDING MECHANISM Filed July 31, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 sa a PER FOOT lv zv ewio/r- I Z UZZSW Why/g;

Feb. 4, 1936. F. D. WILSON GRADE FINDING MECHANISM Filed July 51, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patente Feb. 4, 1936 UNITED STXTES PATENT OFFICE Application July 31, 1933, Serial No. 682,992

22 Claims. (Cl. 37-456) The present invention relates to grade finding 'Thepresent invention comprehends an accurate mechanisms, and more in particular to'such a and efficient means and method of determining construction for use on road machines, including and maintaining the blade or tool at a desired trucks and other vehicles, upon which there is angle. provided a scraper or maintainer blade or other Among the objects of the present invention road working tool adapted to be 'angularly adis to provide a grade finding mechanism to enable justed with respect to a horizontal plane, or to an op rator of a road machine to. determine the plane of theroad bed or surface upon which Whether the blade is operating level or at a dethe tool is operating. l t sired predetermined angle.

In the operation of a road machine or other A further object i t0 P v an indicating 10 vehicle provided with a scraper blade or road vic mount d in a p s ti n'wh r t i c a y working tool, difli uity has always b en x visible to the operator, for disclosing or indicatperienced in adjusting the blade or tool at the mg e angle position a which the b ade o proper and desired angle and'maintaining it at tool of a road meehineie Operating, regardless such angle. This difiiculty is readily apparent of whether such blade or tool isvisible to him.

- when one considers that in surfacing and/or Another O j t of th p es t nv n ion is the maintaining a road bed, the blade must not only pro io of a ve indicating means o cform the surface of the highway, but must shape curately registering the inclination at which a the contour as well, and frequently mix the mablade or tool of a road machine is operating in all terial forming the surface. of its various positions of adjustment, whether 20 It is well known that highways ar generally it be transverse or lateral of the line of travel of and should be slightly higher at the center than t machine at y angle With p ct to a at the sides or edges in order thatthey may drain horizontal plane the Plane of e ad bed properly. Frequently this amounts to but, two or surface upon which the blade or tool is operat inches in a thirty foot highway; i. e. the road is i V 25 but two inches higher in the middle than it is at Still another ject of the invention is the the edges. It is practically impossible with the Provision of a novel means for indicating the prior constructions for an operator positioned in ngl at which a blade or other tool should and 1 his cab or at his station, toaccurately determine does Operate 80 h t pe at may readily whether he has adjusted the blade at the proper a t the blade 1 a a n e Same 30 angle and has maintained the blade at such adat the Proper Operating level 0! a g e. justment. I Yet another object of the invention is to When such a blade is mounted on a road map e a novel o uc o quid gauge or chine utilizing the chassis of a truck or vehicle, indicating device a d to positioned in the the operator is practically helpless to control the operators cab or station and connected with the 35 blade from his position in the cab which normally, blade ob t indicate e angle w ch the is in front of the blade. blade is operating. This gauge or indicating de-, Another u f r h a, r ad a hi i th vice'is disclosed as providedwith graduations to cutting of a slope on the inside oro'uts'ide of a indicate the degrees at Which e b a or too 40 ditch. In many States the specifications'are very Operating d the inches p O nc inat on 0 exacting and the engineers require that such slope of the blade or tool. be at a specified angle. It should be quite ap- Stillanother object is to provide a novel liquid parent that were such requirement, for instance, gauge or indicating device adapted to accurately for an angle of sixty degrees (60), it would be indicate the angle or operating position of the almost impossible with the equipment now on the blade regardless of the posi n 1 n l f he 4 market, for an operator to throw one of these machine upon which itis mounted. In the preslarge blades up or down toone side and be certain ent embodiment, the invention contemplates a that he is cutting the slope at, exactly an angle tube mounted adjacent its upper end for pivotal ofsixty degrees rather than at anangle of fifty movement whereby the tube willat all times seek five degrees or sixty five degrees. This'is para vertical plane. Additional means are provided 50 ticularly true when it is understood that at the, for stabilizing o'r dampening the swinging movetime such blade is supposed to be cutting the ment of this tube soas to maintain the same in angle of the slope accurately, the machine or as nearly as possible avertical plane or position. truck is running onan uneven surface which A still further object is to provide a grade -may be many degrees on level. finding mechanism provided with a level or U- 55 tube arrangement on the blade or operating tool of a road machine or vehicle, connected. with an indicating device at the operator's station or in the cab where it is clearly visible to the operator, for indicating to him the level or angle at which the blade or tool is operating. The communication of the liquid level in the U-tube to the indicating device at all times apprises the operator of the precise angle of the blade or tool in its .cutting,leveling or working operation, and to what extent or angle it needbe shifted.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efiiciency, and ease of assembly, operation and maintenance, and such further objects, advantages, and capabilities as will later more fully appear and as are inherently possessed thereby. It is to be understood that the disclosed preferred embodiment is susceptible of modification and change and comprehends other details and constructions without departing .from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings;

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a road ma chine equipped with a novel grade finding mechanism; a a Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the road machine with'parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in vertical cross section takenin a plane represented by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, with parts broken away to more clearly show the novel invention; I

Fig. 4 is a view in vertical cro'ss section taken in aplane represented by the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

'Fig. 5 is a similar view taken in the same plane, but with the blade shifted to the dotted line position in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view taken on the irregular line 6-6 of Fig.2;

Fig. 7 is a view in front elevation of the novel indicating means or gauge;

Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation thereof;

Fig. 9 is aview in front elevation of an alternate construction. of I indicating means or gauge;

Fig. 10 is a view in vertical cross section taken in a plane represented by the line Ill-l0 of Fi 9; v

Fig. 11 is a view in vertical cross section taken in a plane represented by the line ll-|| of Fig. 9, but disclosingan alternate means for dampening or stabilizing the swinging movement of the indicating means or gauge.

' Referring moreparticularly to the drawings, the embodiment selected to illustrate the invention consists of a road machine having a frame I which is arched intermediate its ends and provided at the front end with steering wheels 2 under side, a blade supporting wheel or circle ll] upon which is'mounted a grader blade or surfacing tool ll by means of arms or bracket members I2. This blade supporting wheel I0 is rotatably mounted on the frame 8, and for this purpose, the inner periphery of the wheel or circle lfl is provided with an arcuate rack having teeth l3 in mesh with a spur gear (not shown) mounted on the shaft M. This shaft 14 has at its'upper end a bevel gear l5 meshing with a bevel gear l6 mounted on and rotated by an operating shaft ll. A hand wheel I 8 is adapted to rotate the shaft H which in turn rotates the blade carrying circle I!) through the medium of the. bevel gears, spur gear and rack.

A pair of arms or rods l9, there being one on each side of the frame 8, are provided for shifting .the position of this frame and the blade or toolcarried thereby. Each of these arms or rods is pivotally mounted at 20 upon the frame 8, and at its upper end is pivotally connected at 2| to an arm 22 which in turn is mounted at 23 upon a shaft 24 extending across the main frame I.

This shaft is connected to hell cranks 25, one on each side of the shaft, and these bell cranks are each in turn connected to a tubular casting 26 internally threaded to receive a threaded shaft 21 operated by a hand wheel 28. Any-rotation of the hand wheel will necessarily operate the shaft 21 and due to its threaded connection with the casting 26, will retract or push forward the bell crank 25 so as to raise or lower the arms 22 and the frame 8. By reason of there being two of theseoperating mechanisms, one on each side of the machine, either orboth sides of the triangular frame 8 may be raisedor lowered asdesired whereby to angularly adjustthe blade with respect to a horizontal plane or the plane of the road or surface being operated upon.

In order to provide lateral adjustment of the frame '8 and its blade ll, transverse of the line of travelof the machine or the longitudinal axis thereof, the frame 8 is provided with a threaded block-or nut29. Threadedly engaging this block or nut is a threaded shaft .38 upon which is mounted a bevel gear 3| adapted tomesh with a bevel gear 32 upon a shaft 33 provided with a hand wheel 34 for operating the same.- Thus whenever the operator rotates the hand-wheel 34, he necessarily rotates the bevel gears 3| and 32 and the threaded shaft 30 which by reason of its threaded connection with the nut or block 29,

swings the frame 8 and blade or tool assembly in a horizontal plane about the pivotal connection at the forward end 9 of the triangular frame 8.

This construction is fully disclosed in Patent No. 1,829,622, granted October 27, 1931 to Fred D. Wilson.

The. novel grade finding mechanism for enabling an operator of a road machine including a truck or other vehicle provided with a road working tool or scraper blade, to determine whether the blade is operating level orat a desired predetermined angle, comprisesa substantially 'U-shaped tube 35 consisting of upright reservoirs or stand pipes 36 mounted upon a strip or bar of 'metal 31 so as to be substantially rigid therewith. This member 31 is pivoted at 38 upon a plate 39 which in turn is mounted on the circle ,III by means of brackets 40 and 4|.

A'pipe 42 connects 'the bottles or reservoirs 36 in order that the water or liquid may flow from one to the other freely and the liquid level be maintained. In the plate 39 are provided openings43 and in the strip or bar 31 is provided analigned or complementary opening 44. A pin is adapted to be,

passed through one of the openings 43 and into the opening 44, depending upon the position of the blade or tool inmoving the material to the left or right, as clearly shown in full and dotted outline in Fig. 2. This adjustm'entis possible by reason of the pivot-38.

Connected to each of the reservoirs, stand pipes or bottles 36 of the U-tube is a tube or conduit 45 V leadingtherefrom tdthe circle Ill and from this noted through the transparency of the tube.

circle along the frame 8 to adjacent the front of the main frame I and from there rearwardly along the frame to the station or cab 1 for the operator. Because of the various adjustments of the frame 8, circle and blade or surfacing the cab is a flexible one. This tubing 45 includes flexible sections 46 and forms a closed circuit between the' U-shaped tube or sleeve 35 and the indicating device or gauge 41 mounted in the cab or at the operators station.

Likewise, the front portion of the tubing which is designated 48 and which connects the tubing between the main frame. I and the auxiliary or blade carryingframe 8is formed of rubber or other flexible material.

Throughout its remaining extent the tube 35 may be formed of copper tubing or the like. The

rubber or flexible connection at the several points I in the circuit is desirable for the reason that the frame 8, circle Ill and bladel I are frequently. shifted and twisted in order that the blade or tool may be adjusted to theproper cutting or operating angle or position.

Mounted within or upon an accessible support of a cab or operators station I at the front end thereof where it maybe readily and easily read by the operatoryis mounted the indicating det vice or gauge .41. The housing 48 thereof is suitably attached to anupright support or brace 50. by means of a bracket 51. The indicating device consists of a U-tube or level 52 partially filled with a liquid 53, the level of whichmay be read through the outer leg 54 of the glasstube. Upon the housing adjacent the leg 54 are provided markings, the markings on one side indicating the angle at whichthe blade or tool is operating, and those on the other side indicate the inches per foot inclination at which the blade or tool is operating. v l t In Figs. .9, 10 and 11, there is disclosed an alternate construction of .lndicating device or gauge 55 adapted tobe mounted in the operators cab or station. The housing 56 thereof is suitably attached to a support on the frame of the cab or station and for this purpose, the rear of the housing or casing 564 is provided with spaced bosses. 51 which are internally threaded to receive supporting bolts or other attaching means for mounting. the indicating device or gauge in position. i

Positioned within the housing or casing is a.

U-tube or level 58. This tube is partially filled with a fluid 59, the level of which may be clearly The outer or forwardly. extending leg of this tube is graduated as at Bland markings are provided adtube aredisclosed on a pendulum which will cause tube 58 to at all times keep a vertical position rejacent these graduations. The numerals at the left of the graduations designate the degree at which the blade or tool is operating with reference to a horizontal plane or theplane of the road bed or, surface, while the numerals or indications to the right of the graduations on this tube designate the inches per foot inclination at which the blade is operating- It is of course to be understood that this embodiment is illustrative only and the graduations and indications maybe varied.

The indications or markings at the sides of the gardless of any inclination the machine as a is mounted.

whole may'take, and to maintain as nearly as possible, this vertical position. In the illustrated embodimentin Fig. 9, this pendulum is shown as comprising downwardly extending legs or projectionstl spaced apart so that the U-tube may be positioned therebetween. Each of these legs or projections is provided with one of the series of markings or indications so that the fluid level within the tube may be accurately read at all times regardless of the position of the machine or cab within which the gauge or indicating device Each leg or projection Si is provided with a rearwardly and outwardly extending attaching flange 61 for mounting the same upon a head or part 62. The ends of the U-tube seat' within openings in the base of this head or part 62 and are cemented or otherwise attached thereto in an air-tight manner. I

These ends are" at all times in communication with sections of rubber hose or tubing 63 and 64 which in turn are connected to the tubing 45 communicating with the U-tube on the blade or tool. In .view of the shifting position of the U-tube or level 58 due to the rocking or inclination at which the machine is operated, it is desirable that these sections of hose or tubing be flexible. In order to secure access to the tube or level 58; the openings or inlets leading thereto, are each provided with a threaded plug 65.

In order that the U-tube or level 58 may assume a nearly vertical position regardless of the posito the interior of the casing or housing 58, there is provided a removable closure 'II,' and to protect the indicating device and at the same time permit accurate reading thereof, the front 'of the casing or housing 56 is provided with a glass cover or other transparency 12.

In orderto dampen or stabilize the swinging movement of the pendulum and tube within the indicating device which takes place when the vehicle passes over an uneven surface, the invention provides means for checking or stabilizing such swinging movement or action. In Fig. 10 this dampening or stabilizing is accomplished by means of a weighted end". In Fig..11 this is accomplished by having the end" of the pendulum submerged in a liquid bath 15.

This stabilizing or dampening of the swinging movement of the U-tube is highly desirable for the reason that in order to secure an accurate reading of the fluid level within this tube, the tube should be in a vertical or substantially vertical position.

Upon the rear of the blade and adjacent one end thereof there may be mounted a hand level 16 for periodically testing and checking the adjustment and position of the road workingmechanism.

From the above description and the disclosure in the drawings, it will be readily apparent that the invention comprehends a novel means and mechanism for indicating and recording the grade or angle at which the blade or tool is operating.

, Having thus disclosed the invention,

a vertical axis, mechanism for angularly adjusting said blade withrespectto a'horizontal plane, a fluid gauge at the operator's station for measun V. ingsaid angular adjustment while the blade is I of, the line of travel of said machine, mechanism adjusted in any position around its vertical axis,

and means for transmitting said angularzadjust ment of the blade to the fluid gauge;

,- 2. In a road machine provided with a scraper blade adapted to be adjusted transverse or lateral for angularly adjusting said blade with respect to the plane of the road bed or surface upon which the blade is operating, a measuring means at the operators station for indicating the angular adjustment of said blade with respectto the plane of the road bed or surface, in any 'transyerseor lateral position of the blade with respect to the line of travel of the machine, and means for transmitting said angular adju tment of the blade to the measuring means. 1

3. In a road machine provided with a road working tool capable of diagonal adjustment aroundja vertical axis,mechanism for angularly adjusting said tool'with respect, to the plane of the road bed or surface upon which the tool is operating, a fluid gauge at the operator's station actuated by the angular position of said tool for I indicating the angle thereof, and means'fortransmitting the. angular position of the tool to the i fluid. gauge. 7

4. A grade finding mechanism for road machines provided with a scraper blade capable of diagonal-adjustment aroundavertical axis and also angular adjustment or inclination with re- I spect to a horizontal plane, comprising a U-tubemounted-adjacent the blade and actuated by the I 40- angular adjustment or inclination at which the blade is operating, and indicating means. at the operator's station connected with said-tube for indicating the angular position or inclination of .the blade while said blade is adjusted in any position around its vertical axis.

5. A grade findingmebhanism for road machines provided with a scraper blade capable ofbeing adjusted abouta vertical axis and adapted to be-angularly inclined withrespect to a horizontal plane, means adjacent said blade, and actuated by the angle at which theblade is inclined, and indicating means at the operators station on V r the machine for indicatingthe angle of-inclinationof the blade in any of its angular positions with respect to the horizontal plane.

1 6. A grade findingv mechanism for road machines provided with a scraper blade capable said blade and actuated by the inclination of the .blade to the horizontal of complete transverse adjustment about a vertical axis and angular inclination about a horizontalv plane, comprising a fluid level adjacent plane, and means in the operators station associated with said fluid level for indicating the angle of inclination of the blade.

7. A grade flnding mechanism for road machinesprovided with a scraper blade capable of angular'adjustment transverse ordiagonal of the longitudinal axis of the road machine, comprising means for adjusting the angle of the blade with respect to-the horizontal, and mechanism for indicating the angle at which said blade is oper- .ating' with" respect to the horizontal and in any transverse or diagonal position of adjustment of the blade. said mechanism, including means acchange in angular 'in any of its vertical axis.

7 tuated by the inclination of the blade and means at the operators station communicating with road bed or surface upon which the tool is oper-' ating, a tube associated with the tool and containing a fluid adapted to shift its position upon a adjustment of the tool, and indicating means connected to said tube and actuated by the fluid therein for'indicatingthe angle of said tool with respect to said longitudinal plane inany of its positions ofadjustment about said vertical axis. f j

9. Ina road machine provided with a road working toolcapable of lateral adjustment with respect to a vertical axis, mechanism for angularly adjusting said tool with respect to the plane of the road bed or surface upon which theme] is operating, a tube associated with the"tool and containing a fluid adapted to shift its, position upon a change in angular adjustment of the tool, and indicating means actuated by the fluid in said tube and spaced therefrom for indicating the angle of said tool in any of its positions of is operating regardless of the transverse or diagonal position of'adjustment thereof.

11. In a road machine provided witha. road working tool capable of adjustment transverse or diagonal of the longitudinal a'xisof the machine, mechanism for angularly adjusting said tool with respect to the plane of the road bed or surface upon.which the tool is operating, a tube associated with the tool and containing a fluid adapted to shift its position upon a change in an gularadjustment of the tool and a. fluid gauge communicating with said tube for indicating the angle of said tool in anyiof its transverse or diagonal positions of adjustment. v e

12. In a grade flndingmechanism for indicat- '-ing the angular position of a 'road'worklng tool with respect toa horizontal plane'and' in any of its positions of adjustment around avertical axis, an indicating device comprising .a fluid gauge associated with said toolfor visibly indicating the degrees of and inches per foot of inclination of the tool with respect to thelongitudinal plane positions of adjustmentaround the 13. In a'grade finding mechanism for a road working tool mounted on a vehicle and capable of diagonal adjustment about a vertical axis, comprising a fluid gauge mounted in the operators station orcab on the vehicle andassociated with said tool for indicating the angular adjustment to a horizontal plane in any of'its'positions of adjustment aboutthe vertical axis, and means changes of said tool to for transmitting I angular said gauge.

. 14. In a grade finding mechanism for ajroad working tool capable of diagonahadjustment about avertical axis, an' indicating device comprising a U-tube con "ininga fluid "actuatedby the angular position or adjustment of said tool with respect to a horizontal plane and in any position of diagonal adjustment, and indications on said tube for indicating the angle of said tool with respect to said horizontal plane.

15. An indicating device for indicating the angular position of a road working tool with respect to the plane of the road bed or surface upon which the tool is operating, said tool being capable of complete adjustment transverse or diagonal of the road bed or surface, comprising a tube containing a fluid actuated bythe angular position of said tool, and indications on said tube for indicating said angle.

' 16. A fluid gauge forroad machines for indicating the angular position of a road working tool with respect to the plane of the roadbed or surface upon which the tool is operating in any position of transverse or diagonal adjustment thereof with respect to a vertical axis, comprising a tube mounted at the operator's station and containing a fluid actuated by the angular position of said tool and indications on said tube for indicating said angle.

1'7. A fluid gauge for road machines'for indicating the angular position of a road working tool with respect to'the plane of the road bed or 'surface' upon which the tool is operating in any transverse or diagonal position of adjustment with respect to a vertical axis, comprising a tube associated with the tool and containing a fluid actuated by the angular position of said tool, and

indications on said tube'for indicating said angle, said tube being pivotally mounted so as to be maintained in a substantially vertical plane regardless of the position of the road machine.

18. A fluid gauge for road machines for indicating the angular position of a road working tool with respect to the plane of the road bed .or surface upon which the tool is operating, comprising a tube associated with the tool and containing fluid actuated by the angular' position of said tool, markings on said tube for indicating said angle, said tube being swingably mounted so as to be maintained in a position to accurately determine the angle of said tool regardless of the position of the road machine, and means for dampening or checking the swinging of said tube .19. A gauge for indicating theangular position of a road working tool with respect to the plane of the road bed or surface upon which the tool is operating, comprising a freely swinging indicating means associated with the tool and recording the angular position thereof, means for transmitting angular changes to said indicating means, and means for dampening or checking said swinging movement.

20. A gauge for indicating the angular position of a road working tool with respect to the plane of the road bed or surface upon which the tool is operating, comprising a pivotally mounted indicating means actuated by the angular position of the tool and indicating the angular position thereof, said means being adapted to be maintained in a substantially vertical plane regardless of the position of the road machine, and means for stabilizing the swinging movement of said indicating means.

21. In a grade finding mechanism for road machines provided with a road working tool, comprising a level positioned adjacent the tool and adjustable therewith, said level consisting of a pair of fluid receptacles, a pipe connecting said receptacles for the passage of fluid therebetween, and indicating means in the operators cab and connected with said receptacles for recording the level of the fluid in said receptacles.

22. In a grade finding mechanism for road machines provided with a road working tool and mechanism for adjusting the angular position of said tool relative to the road bed, comprising a plate mounted on said mechanism, and stationary therewith, a plate adjustable on said first mentioned plate and pivotally connected thereto, fluid receptacles positioned on the opposite ends of said second mentioned plate, and a pipe connecting 'said'receptacles for the free passage for fluid therebetween.

FRED D. WILSON. 

